The Big One has finally hit Los Angeles. After years of dreading the inevitable, a 7.0 earthquake ripped through the city, destroying houses, freeways, and lives. And in the city’s hour of need, as millions had their lives and livelihoods uprooted and ripped away, the United States government bravely stepped up and said… “Nah, lol.”

No real-life government official is mentioned by name. When we hear remarks by the President, it’s most likely a fictional President within the world of the story. (For one thing, the speech is way more articulate.) But if you know anything about how our current President has reacted, on multiple occasions, to the devastation caused to California by natural disasters, then the whole beginning of the comic may hit just a bit close to home.

Then, we jump to five years later. Those who can afford to leave, have left. The rest are building new lives and livelihoods as best they can amid broken roads, shattered buildings, and roving street gangs. Among those still stuck in the City of Angels is Ester Blanco, former police officer turned private detective turned TV show consultant turned yoga instructor. Our hardboiled, neo-noir protagonist, she desperately wants out of Los Angeles and has almost enough money saved up to get there—just as soon as she does one last job, tracking down a distraught father’s missing little girl.

This is a gritty, seedy comic that’s got violence, sex, and dark secrets bubbling just below the surface. Beneath the post-apocalyptic motif, the plot seems fairly standard so far, but in these types of stories, it’s not about the plot. It’s about the characters and the world.

The world looks fun to explore, with a dystopian, neo-noir meets Cyberpunk vibe that I’m liking so far—a world where most everything is broken and/or corrupt. As for the characters, our rough, complicated antiheroine has a bit of a Men Writing Women feel, at least to me, but she’s carrying the story well so far. There are other colorful characters, as well, whom I’m interested to see more of in the next issue, as well as questions I’m anticipating the answers to. If you’re into gritty and dystopian, this one just might be worth your time.

Creative Team: Jordan Blum & Tim Seeley (script), Scott Koblish (art), Hi-Fi (colors), Nate Piekos (letters)
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
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